Sorrow Expressed for Salvadorans After 2d Quake

February 14, 2001
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ROME, FEB. 14, 2001 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed his personal sorrow and his closeness to the Salvadoran people, reeling under the impact of a second deadly earthquake in a month.

The National Emergency Committee said the 6.1 quake Tuesday left 237 people dead. The earthquake´s epicenter was in San Pedro Nonualco, 37 miles east of San Salvador. It affected the provinces of San Vicente and Cuscatlan.

The tremor happened exactly one month after the Jan. 13 earthquake, which killed 827 and affected more than 1 million people.

In a telegram sent today to Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador, John Paul II expressed his profound sorrow over the victims and the property damage, and prayed for God´s aid for them.

Likewise, in the message sent by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Pope prayed that God "will inspire in all feelings of solidarity and fraternity so that, in these very difficult moments, institutions and men of good will will collaborate efficiently, with a generous spirit and Christian charity, to mitigate the pain and overcome the adversities."

With the help of Caritas´ international worldwide network, Caritas-El Salvador, the Church´s local aid organization, has helped 72,000 families affected by the January quake.